Differences in Perceptions of the Relationship between Daughters-in-Law and Mothers-in-Law

Title: Differences in Perceptions of the Relationship between Daughters-in-Law and Mothers-in-LawAuthor: Miyoko NEOI (Faculty of Education, Oita University)Source: Journal of Home Economics of Japan; ISSN:0913-5227; VOL.44; NO.9; PAGE.713-722; (1993)Pub.Country: JapanLanguage:Abstract: The purpose of this study is to clarify perceptions of the relationship between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law, attitudes toward coresidence, their positions and the desirable relationship. The self administered type of survey was conducted to 428 married women in Fukuoka city and Oita city in April to May, 1990. The major findings are as follows : 1) 82% of the sample regarded them as, either daughters-in-law or mothers-in-law, the former felt their position as unhappy, while the latter felt as happy. The older they are, the less they had such feelings.2) About half had positive attitudes forward coresidence with their parents and their eldest son in the future, and over 30% wanted separate living from their children.3) 70% of daughters-in-law wanted to change their relationship, while among mothers-in-law the proportions of those who wanted to change and of those who did not were almost the same.4) The result of analysis of free-answers shows the discrepancies between their attitude, but the mothers-in-law seems to approach to the daughters-in-law.